Sport

S
port is regarded as an essential and integral part of the curriculum. The emphasis is on active participation, fitness, skill development, team work and the development of co-ordination and strength according to each individual’s own ability. Although we aim to be competitive, the emphasis is on participation and sport is a compulsory part of the school day. Unlike some schools that field only A and B teams, all the girls are selected for teams and play matches. Despite being a small school, we boast an U13E hockey team! The girls are coached in all the sports and many of the DSG Junior girls are selected for various regional and provincial teams.

The Junior girls are encouraged to play tennis and squash all-year round. During the summer terms, the main sports are swimming and waterpolo (for Grades 6 and 7) while in winter, the focus is on netball and hockey. In spring, girls have the opportunity to participate in athletics and cross-country running. Horse riding is offered as an extra-curricular sport.

Throughout the year, the girls have the opportunity to compete against other schools in Grahamstown and those within travelling distance, such as Port Elizabeth and East London. Becoming increasingly popular are sports festivals at which a number of schools come together to play matches over a few days. Because there are a number of schools in Grahamstown, various internal leagues have been started for sports such as tennis, squash and hockey. This allows the girls to also compete against players they would not normally meet, such as children at boys’ schools. All these interactive events are enjoyed by the girls: they learn about healthy competition, how to win with humility and lose with dignity. They also have the opportunity to meet girls from around the country and often friendships are formed that continue throughout school careers and into the tertiary phase.

The DSG Junior School is an integral part of the historic Diocesan School for Girls in Grahamstown, which has proudly offered an outstanding education for girls over the past 141 years. At the heart of our school is a caring and loving ethos that encourages every girl to experience success and find self-fulfilment.